In 1988 Cyril was told that if he didn't give up drinking he would be dead within a year. He went T but hated it. He couldn't enjoy his navy reunions when all his mates were knocking 'em back and he wasn't. He then wrote his saddest song ever, 'Reunion' that begins, 'Sorrow is my stock in trade'.

But then he decided that quality of life was more important than longevity. He carried on drinking as usual, and lived for another 17 years!

This is my tribute to Cyril Tawney. It makes reference to twelve of his songs.

Chorus Sing us a sea song Cyril, Or a shanty that's anti the sea Prop up the bar with that old guitar And sing of the Royal Navy Yes you sing of the Royal Navy

You did your time on the Grey Funnel Line But the submarine life was a bore So you sung on TV, bought your liberty And carried your oar ashore Yes you carried your oar ashore

So sing us a folk song Cyril….

I got as far as old Sammy's Bar With a pint of the old black and tan When a Lean Unwashed Tiffy sank his in a jiffy Then sang of the old Oggy Man Yes you sang of the old Oggy Man

So sing us an old song Cyil…..

Sally was breezy, but too Free and Easy The Amazon Girl loved you less And the Five Foot Flirt was a nice bit of skirt Ah but Rosemary loved you the best Yes Rosemary loved you the best

So sing us a love song Cyril……

Stanley the Rat was a fast one at that All out of the Diesel and Shale And Six Feet of Mud went down as it should When sung with a pint of good ale Yes when sung with a pint of good ale

So sing us a funny song Cyril…..

(Slow time) But the booze had to stop, nary a drop Your stock in trade turned into sorrow Reunion you wrote with a lump in your throat (Normal speed) Ah but maybe we'll give up tomorrow Yes maybe we'll go T tomorrow

So sing us a rebel song Cyril……

You loved your beer. It gave you good cheer And that pipe was a warming embrace And a tot of good rum, warming your tum Lit up the glow on your face Yes it lit up the smile on your face

So sing us a drinking song Cyril……

Yes sing us a sea song Cyril Or a shanty that's anti the sea Prop up the bar with that old guitar And sing of the Royal Navy Yes you sing of the Royal Navy

"Reunion" is an astonishing song about the effect of too much alcohol.It is about eight years since I heard it sung by Martin Wyndham-Read and can still feel the power of the words. Not easy listening.

One of our local singers, Ian, at the Crown & the Ferry Boat FCs here in Yorks does it extremely well. His soulful rendition is what fired me to write 'Cyril's Reunion', having some 'inside' info of what happened next!

Cyril was my inspiration when it came to folk singing. He was about 10 years before me in the RN. He also pioneered for us, very successfully, the 'Unicorn Federation of Folk Clubs' tours, throughout Herts, Beds, Bucks and Northants back in the 80s.

An artist was invited for a fortnight or three week tour, with days off, for a block fee. We'd do all the arranging, We'd put them up in one central venue (usually my spare room), and ferry them from club to club. Despite the fear that everyone would go to just one club, the opposite happened. The audience tended to follow the artist about. This meant the artist had to have more than one set, but Cyril coped with that no problem. You don't see much of that now, but it worked then. The agents hated it!

Several of the big names in the circuit now did Unicorn tours back when after Cyril, including Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle. (Who can boast that Steve Tilston slept in their bed? I was downstairs on the settee, I hasten to add!)